Florida — Hurricane Helene, which made landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm, has not only caused widespread destruction but also triggered a surge in dangerous bacteria, according to new data from the Florida Department of Health.
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Following Helene’s landfall on September 26, the number of Vibrio Vulnificus infections—bacteria that thrive in heavy rain and flooding conditions—has doubled in Florida. The state has confirmed 38 cases since the storm, bringing the total to 76 for the year.
Vibrio Vulnificus, often referred to as “flesh-eating bacteria,” can lead to Necrotizing Fasciitis, a life-threatening infection that causes the tissue around an open wound to die. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in five people who contract the infection die, sometimes within just one or two days. Nationally, the CDC reports that 150 to 200 cases of Vibrio Vulnificus occur each year.
Both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 storm in Siesta Key on October 10, caused record-breaking storm surges along Florida’s Gulf Coast. The surge led to saltwater mixing with fresh water, creating an ideal environment for the bacteria to thrive, experts say.
Dr. Scott Rivkees, a pediatric endocrinologist and former Florida state surgeon general, explained the heightened risk: “Where you have saltwater meeting freshwater, this is where vibrio can thrive. If individuals are exposed to brackish water and they have an open cut, or they’re immunocompromised, such as having cancer, vibrio can take hold.”
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As Florida works to recover from the devastation left by both hurricanes, health officials are urging the public to take precautions when coming into contact with floodwaters, particularly if they have open wounds or compromised immune systems.
